Study Concludes Large Law Firms Should Have Ombuds

A new study by the Minority Corporate Council Association concludes that large law firms need to continue their efforts to ensure that minority, female and homosexual attorneys have the same career opportunities as their white male colleagues. The study, titled "Sustaining Pathways To Diversity: The Next Steps in Understanding and Increasing Diversity & Inclusion in Large Law Firms," is the MCCA's first in-depth look at law firm diversity issues since 2003. Although law firms have made diversity issues more of a priority since then, MCCA suggests that firms proactively increase inclusion in the way attorneys experience work and life at their firms. MCCA recommends that training and definitions of discrimination be expanded to include subtle bias, and firms should have an Ombuds with whom attorneys can discuss their experiences. (LawJobs.com Career Center; MCCA.)

Related posts: Job Posting at DLA Piper; MoFo Partner Backs Ombuds as Remedy for Micro-Inequties; Kaye Scholer Implements Ombuds Program.

Univerity of Texas Faculty to Consider Ombuds for Staff

On the recommendation of the Faculty Council Executive Committee, the general faculty at the University of Texas at Austin will vote on a resolution supporting the creation of a staff Ombuds position. UT already has Ombuds offices for students and faculty. (UT General Faculty Doc.)

Related posts: University of Texas Ombuds Office Celebrates 40 Years; UT Austin Faculty Ombuds Gives Annual Report.

Department of Defense Announces First Ombuds for Inspector General

On March 1, 2009, Scott M. Deyo became the first DoD IG Ombudsman, reporting directly to Acting Inspector General Gordon Heddell. Practicing to principles of independence, confidentiality, neutrality and informality, the Ombuds will serve all members of the DOD IG community. A website for the office went online yesterday. In the future, Deyo expects to draft a charter, create outreach materials, implement an online submission form, and issue mid-year and annual reports.

Deyo has over 10 years of professional experience in the conflict resolution community. For the past eight years, he worked for the Washington Headquarters Services of the DoD, establishing the Collaborative Resolution Program and providing ADR services to a range of Defense agencies. Deyo also assisted the Missile Defense Agency and Pentagon Force Protection Agency establish their internal Ombuds programs. Deyo earned his BA from James Madison University and a master of science from the Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution at George Mason University. (DoD OIG Ombuds.)

Prior: Job Posting.

Former Ombuds to Head Seneca College

David Agnew has been selected as the fifth president of the community college for applied arts and technology in Toronto. Agnew comes to Seneca after serving as the Canadian Ombudsman of Banking Services and Investments since 2005. Liz MacLennan currently serves as the Ombudsperson for Seneca College and reports to the office of the president. (Seneca College News; OBSI Profile.)

Western Michigan University Ombuds Profiled

The WMU student newspaper interviewed the recently hired campus Ombuds, Kathy Mitchell. In the article, Mitchell reveals that 80% of her time is spent working with students, 15% with staff and 5% with faculty. She also provides information about IOA. (Western Herald.)

Related post: Western Michigan U. Selects Ombuds.

Things to do During the Joint Conference

If you’re traveling all the way to Montréal, there’s no reason to stay in the conference hotel the entire time. Here are some suggestions for places to spend your per diem in the City of Saints:

• View retrospective of a leading abstractionist at Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal;
• Dine at an outstanding French/Canadian bistro, L’Express;
  
• Relax with the city’s best jazz at Upstairs Jazz Club;
• Read an original letter from Charles Darwin and tour the campus at McGill University;
• If it’s raining, shop indoors at the largest underground complex in the world, RÉSO;
• Sample high end chocolate after window shopping at Suite 88;
• Visit both the Arctic and Antarctic at the Biodôme; and
  
• Mingle with other Ombuds at Fourquet Fourchette Du Palais, site of the official Joint Conference Social Event, which gets high marks as a restaurant and brewery.

Update 4/2/09:

• Celebrate the 40th anniversary of John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s Bed-In for Peace at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel at the Montréal Museum of Fine Arts with free admission!

International Ombudsman Institute and the Republican National Committee Call Off Merger

Talking Points Memo reports that the IOI and RNC have called off efforts to combine operations, citing philosophical differences and an inability to decide which group would get naming priority. Bill Angrick, president of the IOI said, "We were excited because we thought the RNC wanted to transform the party and give working and middle class Americans a voice." However, it is reported that Michael Steele, head of the RNC, lost interest when he learned IOI was actually an organization who stands up for the little people. After an impasse over naming, an IOI staffer suggested alternating the letters in organizations' acronyms (iRoNiC). Angrick decided this was a sign and ceased negotiations. (Talking Points Memo.)

Related post: IOI Newsletter Announces 2009 Conference in Sweden.